NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NEAL WEINBERG ON PRODUCT REVIEWS 10/28/04 Today's focus: NetRule
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * The Reviewmeister looks at a network modeling tool from ��Analytical Engines, NetRule * Links related to Product Reviews * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia NW Special Report: Preparing an Infrastructure for Mobile Applications. Mobility, properly done, increases productivity and decreases operating costs. So get up to date information about building a mobile infrastructure, dealing with security issues, the latest networking options, connectivity alternatives and operational support enhancements. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=85574 _______________________________________________________________ NOW AVAILABLE! Networking for Small Business website Get all the combined Small Business advice, authority, and know-how from the experts at NW Fusion and PC World distilled into one powerful resource, the new Networking for Small Business website. Find everything your small business needs regarding Security, Networking, Broadband, Hardware, Software, and Wireless and Mobile technology at: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=85536 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: NetRule By Neal Weinberg Analytical Engines' NetRule Version 6.0 was very easy to configure and learn, providing good modeling tools especially for LANs. The NetRule library contains a reasonably large selection of vendors and products. However, it does allow customization of any network models, such as changing the CPU processing power, interfaces, etc. The tool does not check for configuration errors or device inconsistency. Nor does it check for IP address conflicts, or protocol errors. It seemed to us that the model assumes that no input errors have been introduced by users. That is a large, and probably unreasonable, assumption. NetRule provided a palette consisting of Cisco-specific and generic network devices. Model creation is very straightforward. Simply drag and drop devices from the NetRule library to create the network, adding the appropriate links and routing protocol information. Next, define the source and destination, the required resources such as priority, message bytes, delay and the traffic type. Unfortunately, NetRule does not interface with management packages such as OpenView or CiscoWorks. NetRule can read a CiscoWorks text file, but not as directly as IT Guru. The text file has to be in the predefined format that NetRule expects. This made the replication of our large-scale production environment a labor-intensive process. As a result, we could not easily import our 120-device network topology into the product. Instead, we manually created a 12-router subset of our production network. Once the model was completed, we could create reports based on configuration changes to the devices and links. The NetRule reporting feature was very good, providing a graphical display of network utilization, delay, traffic flow, etc. We found NetRule's performance to be acceptable. It takes quite a bit longer than we expected for the application to launch, but once it started NetRule seemed to operate relatively quickly in displaying the result whenever we implemented changes to the model. NetRule's printed documentation appeared to come right from a color laser printer. We would have preferred documentation more professional in appearance, although the necessary information was included. NetRule doesn't have all the bells and whistles of IT Guru. But what it lacks in muscle power it makes up for in user friendliness. After attending a one-day training session, we could create network models without problem. This easy-to-learn package does a decent job modeling smaller sized networks, making it ideal for modeling building or departmental LANs. For the full report, go to <http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/1018review.html> RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS OpNet IT Guru 9.0 review http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2003/0127rev/html Microsoft offers peek into future mgmt. software Network World Fusion, 03/17/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0317msindy.html _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Neal Weinberg Neal Weinberg is features editor at Network World, in charge of product reviews, Buyer's Guides, technology primers, how-tos, issue-oriented feature stories and the Technology Insider series. You can reach him at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia NW Special Report: Preparing an Infrastructure for Mobile Applications. Mobility, properly done, increases productivity and decreases operating costs. So get up to date information about building a mobile infrastructure, dealing with security issues, the latest networking options, connectivity alternatives and operational support enhancements. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=85574 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Reviews archive: http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE NW CLEAR CHOICE TESTS The Network World Lab Alliance is a coalition of industry experts, network integration consultants, independent test labs and universities who conduct single-product reviews and head-to-head comparative tests in real enterprise network settings. Find out which products get the "thumbs-up" in categories such as web front-end devices, WLAN security, anti-spam and more at: <http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2 International subscribers click here: http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html _______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx> To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Preferences.aspx> To change your e-mail address, go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx> Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please use this address when modifying your subscription. _______________________________________________________________ Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor, at: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of Online Development, at: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Copyright Network World, Inc., 2004 ------------------------ This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
